In the midst of another horrible, if not horrifying season, the generosity of the Bengals organization, Marvin Lewis, and several of the players continues to be a ray of sunshine to Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati region.

We all want the Bengals to win. We all feel down when they don't, and I believe the players (most of them) and the coaches (most of them) feel down when they lose week after week. While suffering through another subpar season, the team continues to initiate their own charitable efforts and to support the ongoing efforts of community organizations.

One notable example is the Marvin Lewis Community Foundation, which seeks "to empower, educate and inspired individuals in the Greater Cincinnati region." The focus of MLCF, which was formed in October 2003, is to protect and serve the needs of children. Marvin Lewis is a well-known community activist and advocate for youth.

Cincinnati kicker Shayne Graham has joined two former Bengals kickers, Jim Breech and Doug Pelfrey, in Kicks for Kids, another organization that helps kids. Graham has his own foundation and also recently has partnered with Ronald McDonald House. Graham supports numerous other charitable organizations, including Cincinnati's Free Store Food Bank.

The team works with youth throughout Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati by offering numerous football clinics in the region. Among other organizations, the Bengals regularly work with and support Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. Thanks, Mike Brown, for opening your heart and your pocketbook.

I'm sure some of the other Bengals fans out there know of some examples of charitable work done by the team. Feel free to add yours here. And here is a link to the Community Index page on the Bengals' website, which details the activities of the team, complete with photos.